Ross McNeil eyes Scottish Cup leap with Stenhousemuir

EK striker hoping to reach new heights after Amateur Cup agony last season

Stenhousemuir striker Ross McNeil is hoping this weekend will see him make the leap from amateur cup quarter-finalist to Scottish Cup quarter-finalist in the space of a year.

The 22-year-old, from Whitehills, was playing amateur football this time last season for Rutherglen Glencairn’s Under-21s but is on the cusp of a career high with Stenny.

McNeil lost out to Campsie Blackwatch in a 2-1 replay defeat with the Glens in the SYFA Cup, but his new employers take on Albion Rovers in the last 16 of the Scottish Cup on Saturday and he hopes to make his second quarter-final in 12 months.

He told the News: “The quarter-finals is the furthest I’ve ever got in my time playing football, but to make it to the last eight of the Scottish Cup would be my greatest moment.

“Losing to Campsie Blackwatch last season with Rutherglen is still something I don’t like to think about. If Stenny win on Saturday, though, I’m sure that would take some of the pain away.

“It would be a huge jump for me to go from amateur quarter-finals to Scottish Cup level, but we have a tough game ahead of us against Albion Rovers at Cliftonhill.

“After they beat Motherwell in the last round, they will be well up for this game and will probably fancy their chances.

“I would make them slight favourites because of their home advantage and we have to make sure we don’t underestimate them.

“In the last round, we were 2-0 down to Annan who are a league below us as well, and we managed to fight back and take them to a replay and win.

“So leagues and form go out the window in cup ties and this is a great chance for many of the players in both teams to reach their first Scottish Cup quarter-final.”

McNeil is one of seven local players expected to be in the two squads for Saturday’s clash, with Rovers boasting six EK players in their ranks.

And McNeil added: “It’s great there’s so many EK boys playing and I know most of them really well, so I’m sure there’ll be some good banter going about before and after the game but hopefully it’s me who has the bragging rights by the end of it.”